Top 5 Absolute Best Places to Visit in India

The top 5 most amazing places to visit in India

There are so many incredible places to visit in India that often the hardest part of planning a trip to India is narrowing down where to go and deciding which places in India you simply can’t miss.

In this huge and diverse country that’s no easy task. India offers a lifetime of adventures and one of the best things about India, and something that keeps travellers returning again and again, is the diversity of this incredible country – from buzzing cities to ancient temples, palaces and forts, from the desert to the snow capped peaks of the mighty Himalayas, to the tropical beaches and backwaters of Kerala.

There are simply hundreds of places to visit in India but the one thing that remains the same wherever you choose to go in India is that you can be sure you will be in for an adventure, infused with the colour, vibrancy, spirit and warmth of the incredible Indian hospitality that makes traveling here so captivating and memorable.

With so much to offer, it’s hard to choose which are the very best places to visit in India so I’ve narrowed it down to 5 of the most popular and iconic places in India that you’d be crazy to miss out on. These destinations are perfect for your first holiday to India because they allow you to tick off the famous sights and places to visit in India whilst also giving you an exciting insight into India’s rich culture and heritage.

5 places to visit in India

Taj Mahal in Agra

The Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle consists of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The destinations that make up the Golden Triangle are only a short distance apart but contain some of the most famous and iconic sights in all of India making the Golden Triangle one of the most unmissable places to visit in India.

You can see the best of the Golden Triangle in just a few days, starting the capital, Delhi which is a fascinating and vibrant modern city littered with important historical relics of empires past. Next, the city of Agra is home to the most beautiful building in the world – the unmissable Taj Mahal and finally ‘the pink city’of Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan, India’s most flamboyant state, and home to elaborate palaces, colourful bazaars and imposing forts.

Whilst the Golden Triangle contains many of the most popular sights and places to visit in India these cities can be a little overwhelming for a first time visitor to India, luckily there are many great Golden Triangle tours that you can choose from to take the hassle out of your trip and allow you to enjoy these spectacular sights.

Along the ghats of the holy River Ganges in Varanasi

Varanasi

There are many spiritual places in India and if you want to understand more about India’s rich culture, spirituality and religion then Varanasi is an essential stop on any Indian adventure. India has attracted spiritual seekers since time immemorial and the holiest places to visit in India, and one of the oldest inhabited cities in the whole world, is the ancient city of Varanasi situated on the banks of the holy Ganges river.

Visiting Varanasi is quite an experience as Hindus believe that dying here releases you from the cycle of death and rebirth and being cremated along the holy river is very auspicious for Hindus and a unique and unforgettable sight for tourists.

There is also a nightly Ganga Aarti ceremony that tourists are welcome to attend and don’t miss taking a boat ride along the holy river Ganges at sunrise when the whole place is bathed in a magical dewy glow and you can see all the rituals of life , and death, played out along the river bank.

Rajasthan

The desert state of Rajasthan is India at its most colourful and flamboyant. Rajasthan, the land of the Maharajas, is packed with history, ancient forts and extravagant palaces.

Rajasthan contains many of the most popular places to visit in India, filled with colourful cities, bazaars and sights. Jaipur, known as ‘The Pink City’ is more than just a gateway to this intoxicating state, Jaipur is home to the intricate Hawa Mahal, the majestic Amer Fort, the City Palace and much more.

The blue city of Jodhpur with its mighty Mehrangarh Fort is also a must see, as is Jaisalmer, where you can explore this massive ancient golden fort of a city and take a camel safari into the surrounding desert. Also don’t miss the romantic city of Udaipur, a city of mesmerising lakes and places, the holy town of Pushkar, which is also home to the legendary camel festival, and don’t miss the chance to spot tigers at Ranthambore National Park.

Kerala

The tropical, laid back, luscious state of Kerala, known as ‘God’s own country’ in the far South of India is one of the most relaxing places to visit in India. Kerala is a complete contrast to busy North India and makes the perfect relaxing break.

Kerala is famous for its gorgeous, languid backwaters and they are one of the must see places in India. No visit to Kerala is complete without taking a cruise along the backwaters in traditional rice barge, known as a kettuvallam, that has been converted into a luxurious house boat. Watching the local life along the river side carry on as has done for centuries under the gently swaying palm trees while eating a fragrant fish curry is just pure bliss. Kerala also offers tropical jungles, wildlife sanctuaries, spice plantations, hill stations, rolling tea plantations and gorgeous beaches and a chance to experience a much more relaxed pace of Indian life.

As Kerala is one of the most laid back places to visit in India, it makes a perfect, easy introduction to India. You could ease yourself into the country by exploring relaxed Kerala first and then flying up to tour North India.

Colourful prayer flags and the snow capped Himalayas

The Indian Himalayas

If you’re more of a mountain person and want to escape the heat there are still many places to visit in India that will delight you! There’s really something special about the majestic Indian Himalayas and it’s not just the cool air and stunning mountain vistas, you can also visit spectacularly colourful Buddhist monasteries and get a taste of the serene and beautiful Tibetan culture.

Some of the top mountain destinations in India include Himachal Pradesh and Dharamshala, the home of the Dalai Lama, Leh and Ladakh, home to ancient palaces, monasteries and surreal landscapes on the Tibetan plateau and Darjeeling and Sikkim with its world famous tea plantations and stunning, colourful Tibetan monasteries.

With so much to see it would take a lifetime to see all this incredible country has to offer. This is why many people return again and again but these are destinations that are perfect for your first trip to India.

How to Plan the Perfect Indian Holiday

Whilst I believe that India is one of the most incredible destinations in the world, I’m also the first to admit that traveling in India can be a culture shock and a challenge for even the most experienced traveller and planning your first trip to India can seem like a daunting task. To help I put together a complete step by step guide to preparing for your first trip to India.

Don’t worry though, it does get easier once you become more accustomed to the country but, especially for first time visitors, if you want to experience all this amazing country has to offer without the hassle then letting an experienced and reputable tour company like Indian Holiday take care of all your travel arrangements can ensure that your holiday goes smoothly and is memorable for all the right reasons!

In Varanasi overlooking the river Ganges

This post was kindly sponsored by Indian Holiday PVT LTD (IHLP), a National Tourism Award winning leading tour operator and travel agent that is recognized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and has been serving satisfied clients for over 25 years. IHPL offers expertly crafted itineraries for both short escapes and inclusive tours all over India. They also customise or put together custom tours to suit your specific interests and requirements for the perfect Indian Holiday!

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Hi, I’m Anna, I'm a dreamer, nomad and travel addict from England. I left the UK in Dec 2012 and have been traveling around India, South East Asia, Australia and Europe independently and on a budget ever since. Now I want to show you how to make travel your lifestyle too. Want to know more ...

Indeed, India is a Incredible place to travel. So many religion, culture, people, languages, food. There is so much to learn from India because each and every state is a country by itself and each has its own cuisine. It just amazes me. I specially like Indian wedding styles & their festivals.

Hi anna, I don’t have a plan to visit India so far. If ever I got a chance, I’ll let you know. Thanks for this interesting glimpse. I’ll make sure nothing to be missed out. India and Thailand are already on my bucket list.

Hi Lauren, excited to hear you want to visit India. Yes, 2 weeks would be enough to visit some of the main stops, you could see the Golden Triangle and some of Rajasthan or Varanasi or the Golden Temple at Amritsar – theses are all quite easily accessible from Delhi. Or maybe instead after the Golden Triangle fly down and relax in Kerala or Goa – my advice would be not to rush to fit too much in though as it may end up being a more stressful trip then. Hope you have a great trip! 🙂

I will visit this places on my trip to india in a few days and write about it on my blog http://www.lucidlucas.com thank you for this great post! It’s really difficult to figure out where to go in such a big country.

Hi! Love hearing all your advice on India. My boyfriend are looking to head to India in March for Holi and do the northern part of India since we only have around 20 days. I was wondering if you recommend booking things in advance before you go or if it is better to book accommodation and stuff like that once you arrive. Thanks again!

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Hi, I'm Anna

Hi, I’m Anna, I’m a writer, dreamer, nomad and travel addict originally from sleepy Suffolk in the UK. I quit my job in Dec 2012 and have been traveling slowly, independently and on a budget around India, Southeast Asia and Australia ever since. I fell in love with India and am now based there in Goa. I set up this blog to share my tips and experiences for traveling and working abroad to inspire and help you to travel more too. Want to know more about me ...

4 weeks agoby globalgallivantingColourful fishing boats in #Goa#India Working hard on lots of blog posts and tips for you if you are coming to Goa this season ⛵

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1 month agoby globalgallivantingMadhya Pradesh is home to some of India's best national parks and it's one of the best places to spot a tiger in the wild. You should take a couple of safaris to be in with the best chance and sometimes you just need to be lucky. Unfortunately I didn't see any tigers but @i_am_aileen did and let me share her amazing photos with you! Check out her insta @i_am_aileen for more amazing pics from her Indian adventure. Next stop - Goa! Thanks @mptourism for showing me more of this interesting and under rated state - full blog post coming…

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4 weeks agoby globalgallivantingColourful fishing boats in #Goa#India Working hard on lots of blog posts and tips for you if you are coming to Goa this season ⛵

1 month agoby globalgallivantingGood morning Goa! Lots of cows on the beach today. Happy to be back in my favourite place Read this post if you want to know why I love Goa so much http://www.global-gallivanting.com/its-better-in-goa-why-goa-is-the-best-place-on-the-planet/ #love#beach#cows#Goa#India

1 month agoby globalgallivantingMadhya Pradesh is home to some of India's best national parks and it's one of the best places to spot a tiger in the wild. You should take a couple of safaris to be in with the best chance and sometimes you just need to be lucky. Unfortunately I didn't see any tigers but @i_am_aileen did and let me share her amazing photos with you! Check out her insta @i_am_aileen for more amazing pics from her Indian adventure. Next stop - Goa! Thanks @mptourism for showing me more of this interesting and under rated state - full blog post coming…

1 month agoby globalgallivantingI have to admit I didn't know much about Bhopal before visiting for the Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart and I was pleasantly surprised by the capital of Madhya Pradesh. It's a city of lakes with some great heritage hotels and interesting historic sights and architecture. Most people think that the Jama Masjid in Delhi is India's largest mosque but actually the biggest is here at the Taj-ul-Masajid which literally means 'Crown Among Mosques' in Bhopal #MPTM2017#Bhopal#mosque#MadhyaPradeshTourism@mptourism#India

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Global Gallivanting is passionate about bringing you all the tips and inspiration to help you travel more frequently, more affordably and more adventurously. To help us do that occasionally Global Gallivanting may take part in sponsored trips, partner with like minded brands or earn a small commission from affiliate links but all opinions are my own and I never recommend a product or service that I don't honestly use and love myself. All information here is my own opinion and therefore should be taken at your own risk. Global Gallivanting and Anna Phipps reserves the copy right for all content and images on this website unless otherwise stated. You may not republish without written consent. Thank you for reading!

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